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Topics - Barrie Davis

#41
FOR SALE and WANTED / The Harrison Story
July 24, 2011, 08:05:16 PM
Hi Im trying to find a copy of this book at a reasonable price, any offers?

Barrie
#42
Hi

I listened to part of this last night and heard Gordon Stewart playing an amusing piece I think it was called "Handel in the Strand". Does anyone know this music and where I can obtain a copy?

Barrie
#43
Restoring pipe organs / Pedal Acoustic Bass 32
April 12, 2011, 01:26:48 PM
Hi

I have never been totally satisfied with the sound produced by Quinted 32s, often they Quint is derived from the Bourdon which is often far too loud. I recently played a small organ with a synoptic spec as follows; 16, 10.2/3, 8, 5 1/3, 4, all derived from the one Bourdon unit. The 10.2/3 was useless and certainly did not produce a realistic 32 sound.
I have heard of, but never some across, organs which have a 32 the lowest octave being quinted off a seperate octave of Quint pipes, these standing on their own chest and voiced quietly to provided the needed 5th. Does any member know of any places where this has been done?

Best wishes

Barrie
#44
Organ building and maintenance / Humidifiers
March 18, 2011, 01:51:59 PM
Does anyone know if a valve or valves have to be fitted to each soundboard where a humidifier is installed? The organ I play has such a unit which only feeds the main wind supply into the organ, the organ builder who looks after it is of the opinion that there should be valves on each sound board. Can anyone help?
The organ tuners say if these had been fitted we would not have the runnings there are now after the organs recent exposure to high heat for 3 days.

Barrie
#45
Organ concerts / Organ Recital
March 10, 2011, 12:49:57 AM
Free admission, retiring collection for the upkeep of the organ.
#46
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / New Zealand Earthquake
February 22, 2011, 01:54:36 PM
I have been shocked to see the amount of devestation on the news this morning following the earthquake in Christchurch.
Can we pray for all the people who lost their lives, their families and the people of Christchurch and all affected areas.
I understand they are now bracing themselves for the after shocks.
Many buildings have been badly damaged, including the Cathedral, these can be rebuilt as can any organs that have been damaged during this terrible time.
Barrie
#47
Fundraising for an Organ / Grants
February 16, 2011, 12:33:47 AM
Does any member know where grants are considered for the restoration of pipeorgans?
My church is basically broke thanks to a large quota, and the organ needs several thousands spending on it. We cannot ask the congregation as this is dwindling in numbers. Some guidance would be appreciated.

Barrie
#48
Organ building and maintenance / Urgent Help Please
January 30, 2011, 11:48:20 PM
My organ has developed runnings all through the Great, the humidifier is working perfectly and the organ builder tells me its because of heat, we have now reduced this down to 15c from 18c.

Paul Carrs recital is next Sunday can anyone help me cure the runnings? I dont really want to bleed the soundboard.

Best wishes

Barrie
#49
On Friday I had to play for a funeral service at Enville Church, I had been looking forward to playing this organ as I knew it in its previous home at St Leonards Bridgnorth. I now wish I had declined the service. The console and Choir Organ (unencl) is in the chancel, the Great and Swell is situated in a corner at the very back of the church. When the church is empty you can just about hear those 2 divisons but with a congregation it is impossible. The only thing to do is couple the Choir to the Great to hear what you are playing. I was warned before the service that at the back the organ was very loud, from my past memories it certainly filled its former home. This is one instance of an instrument being moved without much thought. Both of the specs can be found on NPOR.

Barrie
#50
Organs in danger / Bad News in the West Midlands
October 28, 2010, 02:40:37 PM
I have recently been informed about some organs under threat in the West Midlands.

St Michaels and All Angels Langley.

3 manual Nicholson, tracker action, with some electrification to give the Oboe at 16 and 8. The church was made redundant 2 years ago and closed, the organ remained in situ a few weeks ago the church was vandalised, luckily they only had time to remove the Choir pipework. The Great and Swell has now been safely saved and stored.

Christchurch Summerfield Birmingham.

3 manual Nicholson, tracker action. The organ is now mothballed pending replacement with a digital with midi facilities. The cost of restoring this instrument being far too expensive for the parish.

St Lukes Cradley Heath

3 manual Compton extension organ. The wiring has perished being cotton covered making the organ basically unplayable. Again the parish cannot afford to have any work carried out and have bought a Yamaha keyboard.

Holy Trinity Old Hill

3 manual Brindley and Foster/Nelson/Lloyd. Tonally this organ is superb but very badly restored in the 80s. The action is diabolical and the soundboards are in poor condition. The church is starting a reordering scheme and it is highly unlikely that the organ will remain.

Im getting depressed so will not add more, I may do later.

Barrie
#51
Miscellaneous & Suggestions / A green idea
October 18, 2010, 01:08:59 AM
Many years ago I was travelling from Ludlow to Richards Castle and visited the church. The organ was then situated at the West End, the organist was there and demonstrated the instrument for me. I then noticed a large handle in the floor close to the console. The organist explained that the organ could be water blown and the mechanism still worked, he demonstrated this. It was a lot quieter and cheaper than the electric blower, but the down side was in the summer months the water supply dwindled and there was not enough to turn the wheel generating the wind. This is a good idea, but not very practical.
Barrie
#52
There are a number of churches within in the C of E which are closed for Worship but open for historical reasons. St Marys Shrewsbury springs to mind, this church has a fine 4 manual Binns organ and some Harris and Byfield pipework and case. It is played from time to time but who is reponsible for its care and if the situation arose could it ever find a new home? I find it ridiculous that these organs are not used, but this is better than being broken up as is often the case when dreaded reordering takes place.
My own church was reordered some 10 years ago, the choir stalls were removed and one priest said when the organs gone that will make a prayer room, luckily after much fighting this never happened, the congregation value the instrument we have the care of. This makes a change!!!!
#53
Organ building and maintenance / Hybrid Organs
June 22, 2010, 10:38:11 AM
How do members feel about so called "hybrid" organs?

I have recently played one close to my home and the added electronic stops to the choir and pedal simply failed, or was this a question of speakers?

Allen/Collins built such an instrument at Truno but I have yet to see the stoplist and breakdown of the ranks in this instrument.

Barrie
#54
Organs in danger / Christie Organ in Cradley Heath
June 04, 2010, 09:34:56 AM
The Majestic Cinema in Cradley Heath is still standing after being used for a while as a Bingo Hall after the demise of the Cinema, it is now being used as a warehouse in which to store cycle parts.
The organ is still intact, the console is hidden under the stage, the original waterpowered lift still works!! The relays and pipework are in chambers on the right of what was the auditorium, luckily the pipework is heated but the whole organ is unplayable at this time.
Several approaches have been made to the owners in an attempt to rescue this instrument, but they want ridiculous money for the organ, I dont really feel they realise the costs involved after the organ has been removed from its present sad home.